My father Zhu Gaoxu

Chapter 704 Steam Ship
Beizheng Port, a huge shipbuilding workshop, is full of busy craftsmen.

This shipbuilding workshop is run by the government. When Zhu Zhanhe was still in the Ming Dynasty, he recruited many shipbuilding craftsmen from the Ming Dynasty, and then sent them to the Han Dynasty little by little. Today, less than half of the warships used in the Han Dynasty navy are from here.

"Your Highness, please look at this. This is the structural diagram of a chariot and ship. This kind of ship first appeared in the Tang Dynasty and emerged in the Song Dynasty. It is said that many warships at that time were used as chariots and ships..."

In the workshop, a middle-aged official held a blueprint in his hand and was explaining to Zhu Zhanhe the design of a ship on the paper.

This kind of boat has a strange shape. There is no sail on the boat, but there are two big wheels at the front and rear. It doesn't look like a boat, but more like a large boat-shaped car, so it is named "car boat".

This kind of vehicle and boat is actually an ancient steamship. To be precise, it is a paddle steamer. It mainly uses people on the boat to drive the paddle wheels on both sides of the boat. The paddles on the wheel paddle the sea water to make the boat move forward. It is similar to the paddle steamers of later generations. Very similar.

After listening to the other party's story, Zhu Zhanhe said, "You have seen the steam engine just now. Are you confident that it can be installed on such a vehicle and ship to drive the ship forward instead of human power?"

"No problem, the construction of this kind of vehicle and ship is not complicated. With a few modifications, the steam engine can be installed on the ship!"

The middle-aged official said with great confidence.

This middle-aged official’s name is Zu Huan. It is said that his ancestor is the famous Zu Chongzhi. Perhaps influenced by his ancestors, he is also good at arithmetic and is also very interested in ship design. As early as the Ming Dynasty, he participated in the voyages to the West. The design and construction of the ship later cost Zhu Zhanhe a lot of money to recruit the Han Dynasty.

"Very good, you can put other things aside during this period and be specifically responsible for building this kind of steam engine ship. Once this kind of ship is built, the sailing ships you built before will probably be gradually eliminated!"

Zhu Zhanhe ordered immediately.

If you want to explore the entire world, you must have better ships. After all, most of the world is ocean. Sailboats are too slow. Steam-powered ships are the future development direction.

"Your Highness, the steam engine is indeed very powerful, but it needs to burn coal and add fresh water. Both of these things must be stored on the ship, so the available space on the ship will be smaller."

Zu Huan did not agree with Zhu Zhanhe's words, because in his opinion, although steam engine ships have many advantages, they also have very obvious shortcomings.

"The problems you mentioned do exist, but they are not impossible to solve. For example, bringing a special supply ship, or frequently entering the port to replenish fuel and fresh water. The speed of a steam engine ship can more than make up for these shortcomings!"

Zhu Zhanhe explained very patiently.

"This... well, His Highness has a long-term vision. Unless I can compare with it, I will try my best to build the steam engine ship as soon as possible, and then I can see its effect with my own eyes!"

Zu Huan still had some doubts about Zhu Zhanhe's words. After all, he had never seen the speed of a steam engine ship with his own eyes, and he could not imagine the scene of sailboats being eliminated. This was also the biggest difference between Zhu Zhanhe and people of this era. After all, he knew We know where the general trend of history is heading.

Zhu Zhanhe didn't give much explanation, because he knew that facts speak louder than words. After Zu Huan designed and built the steam engine ship, he would naturally understand that sailboats were destined to be eliminated.Zhu Zhanhe then discussed some details of the design and construction of steamships with Zu Huan. The exact name of this kind of steam engine ship, which was transformed from an ancient car and ship, should be a paddle steamer. It was also the mainstream ship when steam ships first appeared in history. .

But later this kind of paddle wheel ship was replaced by the propeller steam engine ship, because the paddle wheel ship had many shortcomings. First, the paddle wheel was too bulky, second, it was low in efficiency, and third, it took up a lot of space, and it was not convenient to turn.

It can be said that this kind of paddle steamer has shortcomings all over the body, and it is far inferior to the propeller-driven steam ship.

However, paddle steamers have a very obvious advantage, that is, their structure is simple. As long as the vehicles and ships that have appeared long ago are slightly modified, they can be adapted to steam engines.

In contrast, propeller drive is more complicated and it is estimated that it will take several years at the earliest to be realized.

Zhu Zhanhe didn't want to wait that long, so he simply used a simple paddle wheel to build a steam engine ship first, and then improved it while using it.

Of course, Zhu Zhanhe also told Zu Huan about the propeller-driven idea, asking him to focus on propeller-driven steam ships after completing the design and construction of the paddle steamer.

Just as Zhu Zhanhe finished explaining the matter of the steam engine ship, he saw Li Qi hurried in from outside and reported: "Your Highness, the Ottoman envoy Mufas has led the fleet to the port!"

Zhu Zhanhe came to Beizheng Port this time not only for the steam engine ship, but also for another important thing, which was to personally welcome the second mission sent by the Ottoman Empire.

The last time Mufas came with an envoy, he wanted to buy Ulugh Beg back as a slave, to avoid the humiliation his grandfather had suffered at the hands of Timur, but he failed in the end.

But Mufas did not come in vain. Instead, he brought back a batch of large glass mirrors. These mirrors are extremely popular wherever they are. It can be expected that Mufas will definitely cause trouble after returning to the Ottoman Empire with those mirrors. Huge shock.

Just some time ago, Zhu Zhanhe received news that the second batch of missions sent by the Ottoman Empire was about to arrive at Beizheng Port. This time, Mufas was still leading the team. Zhu Zhanhe knew without thinking that this time Mufas must still be here for the mirror.

That's why Zhu Zhanhe came to Beizheng Port in advance. Firstly, he personally gave instructions to the shipbuilding workshops and urged them to build steam engines as quickly as possible. Secondly, he was to welcome the Ottoman delegation.

Glass mirrors are still considered luxury goods. Taking advantage of the inflated prices, Zhu Zhanhe certainly wanted to kill a few more fat sheep. The Ottoman Empire connected Eurasia and snatched countless properties from Europe. It was definitely a big fat sheep. .

In addition, with the help of the Ottoman Empire, Zhu Zhanhe could also sell mirrors to Europe. In this way, he could also indirectly harvest European wool.

In addition to the mirror business, Zhu Zhanhe also has another important matter. This matter is not only related to the future diplomatic relations between the Ming Dynasty and the Ottomans, but also affects the situation in the entire Eurasian continent. So much attention was paid to Si's second coming.

Now that the Ottoman mission finally arrived, Zhu Zhanhe also left the shipbuilding workshop and led a specially prepared honor guard to the port, preparing to welcome the arrival of the Ottoman mission.

(End of this chapter)